Duncan Sharp has been appointed as the 101st president of the Plumbing and Heating Federation (SNIPEF), determined to tackle the ongoing workforce crisis, apprenticeship funding stagnation, while championing a future-ready industry in the transition towards net-zero.
Commenting on his appointment as president, Duncan Sharp says: “Becoming SNIPEF President is a great honour for me, and I see it as an opportunity to give something back to a profession that gave me a livelihood.
“I am excited and motivated to see how we can move forward for the benefit of our members and what we can do to deliver positive change to the plumbing and heating profession.”
A key focus of his presidency will be industry-wide growth – spanning not just membership numbers, but business development, workforce confidence and SNIPEF’s influence with government. “Growth is really the key for me,” he says. “It touches every part of the profession.”
Apprenticeships will also be a high priority. Many employers are struggling to take on trainees due to rising costs and limited support. Without urgent action, Sharp believes, the sector risks falling into a damaging cycle of workforce decline. His goal is to help shift perceptions, so that recruiting apprentices is seen not as a burden, but as a vital investment in the future.
“I am keenly aware that we face a difficult environment. Our profession has found itself in an increasingly self-perpetuating and vicious cycle, where the lack of available skilled workforce is impacting the growth potential of our members and rising costs are making apprentice recruitment unviable for many.
“I want to be part of the drive to break this cycle, ensuring the next generation continues to have access to career prospects and that our employers do not see apprentice recruitment as a risk, but an opportunity.”
Sharp brings more than five decades of experience to the role, starting as an apprentice himself with Scottish Gas and going on to lead national sales operations and found his own renewables-focused company, Grange Energy Services Limited. His understanding of both technical and business challenges positions him well to support members across the board.
Under his leadership, SNIPEF will continue to lobby for enhanced training support, better recognition of the profession’s role in achieving net-zero and a stronger relationship with policymakers. Embracing new technologies and encouraging innovation will also form part of the agenda.
Sharp has served on the SNIPEF Board since 2023 and became a BPEC Trustee in 2024, reflecting his growing commitment to sector leadership and advocacy. His presidency runs from 6 June 2025 to 5 June 2026.
